Ryan and I have now been in Haiti just over three months.  In some ways it’s went quickly, and in others it feels like we’ve been here forever.  We have met a lot of amazing people, both guests and Haitians.  Being at the guesthouse is never predictable, and you never know what a day is going to bring or who you will meet.  Before coming here, I had to have things very planned out and scheduled and just a certain way.  And now my mind is pretty well adjusted to thinking the opposite – things will not go as planned, they will probably take about five more steps than you thought, and before you finish that task – something else will come up.  This is Haiti.

At dinner when we don’t have a lot of guests, we will sometimes talk about our “highs and lows” for the day.  My high often involves hanging out with our Haitian staff, practicing Creole with them, and just getting to know them and Haitian culture better.  The Haitian people are so amazing, and it is such a joy to spend time with them whenever we can.  Ryan often says his high includes working on new computer technology for Heartline, and making those systems run more efficiently.

We also enjoy running the guesthouse, but as I’ve heard someone say before, “It’s the hardest job we’ll ever love.”  And that’s so true.  It’s so rewarding to be here serving the servers, helping them process their experiences, taking care of any needs they have, and listening to their stories.  It’s such a unique position to be in, and one that you really couldn’t get anywhere else.  It’s also a very tough job, and the same things that are wonderful about it are the things that are difficult and draining.   We often receive emails from our director saying, “Trusting that the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  I’ve thought about that a lot since getting here, and what it really means.  I think for me it is simply trying to seek God every day, and remembering that serving Him is the greatest honor and joy that I can have.  And no matter how hard things are, if I am serving God, then it is all worth it.  That is where my strength needs to come from every day.  Otherwise I won’t be able to do this successfully.  Or really anything in life.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.  God is good and cares for even our littlest needs.  I was reminded that today when a guest showed up with an electric hand mixer and some (not expired!) frosting for us.  She had read our blog about how I’ve tried to unsuccessfully make several birthday cakes here without a hand mixer.  My frosting was a disaster each time, and I haven’t been able to find it in stores without it being expired.  What a huge blessing that God put it on a complete stranger’s heart to bring that for us.  I know it’s little, but I think that’s where we need to be looking for God sometimes, in the small, seemingly insignificant details.  That’s where God can really shine his love on us.